Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Quick Update
These past couple months have been a whirlwind, so I'll try to do brief summaries! But first, I'd like to publically thank Micah for carrying the full load of updating this blog while I've been so busy! Just one of the many things he carried while I focused on school! That's really been the story of his life since we've been here! He's my hero!
November was packed full of open-houses and programs and presentations! I'll mostly tell you all about these things in person, 'cause it would take too long to write about! But, suffice it to say that November was a really important month for the life of my program. Many of you know (I think!) that I've been really involved in establishing a bilingual program at the 1st grade level for my school. In November, we held an open-house for all the teachers in our school. Many of the teachers were skeptical of the program and its benefits, as well as how it affects the well-being of our students. This was our opportunity to show them that it does work and that they too can help facilitate a program like this. All I'll say about it here is that it went GREAT!!!
Next, we held a Thanksgiving Festival in which my whole class and their families got together to eat a traditional American Thanksgiving meal. After the meal there were student presentations, part of which included an oral presentation given by each student. They shared what they were thankful for. As a surprise, at the end my Korean co-teacher got up and shared why she was thankful, and I got up and shared in Korean why I was thankful! I was really intimidated to speak Korean in front of native speakers! Parents were really happy though, and everything went off without a hitch!
Ok, fast-forward now, past the English teachers' TG meal, past our friends moving back to the States, past the English teachers' Christmas dinner, past all of our staff Christmas gatherings, past all of the last week of school activities - you have now arrived at Christmas day:) We spent the morning opening presents sent from our families, which was a blast! We also read about the first Christmas together and thanked God for sending us Christ. At 2:00 there was a special Christmas service at our church, then at 4:00 we were picked up by a Korean family who whisked us away to their lovely home for a lovely Christmas dinner and wonderful fellowship together. We talked and ate and looked at pictures and ate and talked and just in general had a fabulous time together! They have 2 really neat kids (a boy and a girl), and had many stories to tell us of their missionary experience in Albania. We didn't leave their house till after midnight! We couldn't believe how quickly the time had passed! By the time we got back home, we were just overwhelmed by how rich we felt. God has blessed us so much, all along He has taken care of every detail of our lives.
It's now midnight, here, and I could write more, but I know that the later it gets, the less sense I'll be making:) We're looking forward to spending a few days in Japan in January, then we just have a couple of weeks till school starts up again - then a couple more weeks and we'll be home again! We are really looking forward to being back in Pittsburg! Love you all! Thanks for reading this hastily written blog post! We'll try to post more soon, and we'll be sure to include pictures! Love, Sarah
November was packed full of open-houses and programs and presentations! I'll mostly tell you all about these things in person, 'cause it would take too long to write about! But, suffice it to say that November was a really important month for the life of my program. Many of you know (I think!) that I've been really involved in establishing a bilingual program at the 1st grade level for my school. In November, we held an open-house for all the teachers in our school. Many of the teachers were skeptical of the program and its benefits, as well as how it affects the well-being of our students. This was our opportunity to show them that it does work and that they too can help facilitate a program like this. All I'll say about it here is that it went GREAT!!!
Next, we held a Thanksgiving Festival in which my whole class and their families got together to eat a traditional American Thanksgiving meal. After the meal there were student presentations, part of which included an oral presentation given by each student. They shared what they were thankful for. As a surprise, at the end my Korean co-teacher got up and shared why she was thankful, and I got up and shared in Korean why I was thankful! I was really intimidated to speak Korean in front of native speakers! Parents were really happy though, and everything went off without a hitch!
Ok, fast-forward now, past the English teachers' TG meal, past our friends moving back to the States, past the English teachers' Christmas dinner, past all of our staff Christmas gatherings, past all of the last week of school activities - you have now arrived at Christmas day:) We spent the morning opening presents sent from our families, which was a blast! We also read about the first Christmas together and thanked God for sending us Christ. At 2:00 there was a special Christmas service at our church, then at 4:00 we were picked up by a Korean family who whisked us away to their lovely home for a lovely Christmas dinner and wonderful fellowship together. We talked and ate and looked at pictures and ate and talked and just in general had a fabulous time together! They have 2 really neat kids (a boy and a girl), and had many stories to tell us of their missionary experience in Albania. We didn't leave their house till after midnight! We couldn't believe how quickly the time had passed! By the time we got back home, we were just overwhelmed by how rich we felt. God has blessed us so much, all along He has taken care of every detail of our lives.
It's now midnight, here, and I could write more, but I know that the later it gets, the less sense I'll be making:) We're looking forward to spending a few days in Japan in January, then we just have a couple of weeks till school starts up again - then a couple more weeks and we'll be home again! We are really looking forward to being back in Pittsburg! Love you all! Thanks for reading this hastily written blog post! We'll try to post more soon, and we'll be sure to include pictures! Love, Sarah
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Advent 4: If Only In My Dreams
This was our Christmas feast on Sunday. Strawberries, Domino's Pizza, Spaghetti, and our choice of ten different pieces of cake. We chose the one with the giant curls of chocolate. Hayoung is eating crust. We partook of this feast at our Vineyard meeting. It was a great time. We did a gift exchange, complete with the ability to steal gifts from others. I stole a $50 gift certificate to a restaurant in Seoul and Sarah stole some jars of hot tea mix. It looks like giant jars of jam, but you mix it with hot water to make tea. When they lit candles in the cake and we started singing "Happy Birthday", I thought someone had remembered my birthday after all, but we just sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. I felt silly for hoping.We also just received two boxes in the mail from our families. Thanks families! We opened our birthday stuff, but we're saving our Christmas stuff for Friday. (Okay, Thursday night...okay I opened mine and rewrapped them, don't tell Sarah).
I leave you with the last few verses of the story of Jesus birth in Luke. His advent. The greatest thing that has ever happened! We know why He advented and that is cause for celebration!
Luke 2:13-20 New American Standard Bible
13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."
15When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."
16So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.
17When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.
18And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
19But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."
15When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."
16So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.
17When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.
18And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
19But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
"I'll Be Home For Christmas" keeps running through my head.
Happy Christmas Everybody!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Advent 3 (or Don't Give Your Blog Posts More Than One Title).
Luke 2: 8-12 There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger." The Message
This morning, I have the task of sharing a sermonette with the 5th and 6th grade students. I'll be talking about the difference between Saint Nicholas (the real, Christian man that lived a life that reflected Jesus), and Santa Claus (the imagined, secular elf-man that didn't actually live at all). It's sad to watch the secularization of Christmas. The transformation of Saint Nicholas was much like what still goes on today. They removed all symbols of Christianity, made him fat, and called him Santa. Saint Nicholas is said to have been quiet and humble in his giving. Santa is always yelling HO HO HO! and shows up with jingle bells and livestock on your roof! Not quiet, not humble, not Christ-like.
Let's live lives that point back to Jesus.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Advent 2: Electric Boogaloo
Advent also means arrival. We celebrate advent because of the advent of Christ. Makes sense, doesn't it?
Luke 2: 6-7
6While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.
7And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (New American Standard Bible).
7And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (New American Standard Bible).
Saturday was flurrious. I'm not sure if there is a scale by which one can judge the level of snowfall, but as I walked into the wind, it felt like a blizzard. It was the first snow of the year and it was beautiful if somewhat shortlived.
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